Molly Oswaks

Today three net neutrality groups—Free Press, Public Knowledge and the New American Foundation's Open Technology Institute—together released a written statement to AT&T (see below), alerting the iPhone carrier of their intentions to file a formal complaint with the FCC.

What has them so hot and bothered? AT&T's announcement last month that only users who subscribe to the carrier's new Mobile Share data plan will be able to use FaceTime, the popular voice-and-video chat app, over cellular.

When Apple launched iOS 6, it was happy to announce that FaceTime was finally going to be available …
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To wit:

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"AT&T's decision to block FaceTime unless a customer pays for voice and text minutes she doesn't need is a clear violation of the FCC's Open Internet rules. It's particularly outrageous that AT&T is requiring this for iPad users, given that this device isn't even capable of making voice calls. AT&T's actions are incredibly harmful to all of its customers, including the deaf, immigrant families and others with relatives overseas, who depend on mobile video apps to communicate with friends and family." — Free Press Policy Director Matt Wood.